A few familiar adjectives find their way into reports whenever news writers attempt to describe Nebraska’s 3rd Congressional District. Among our nation’s largest geographically, it stretches across two time zones and encompasses 67 counties and 65,000 square miles.

“Expansive” and “sprawling” are among the words that capture the sheer size of the district, but they don’t describe the diversity of communities that dot the landscape, the variety of climates and the assortment of agricultural practices that underpin the district’s mostly rural economy.

The largest communities — Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings, Columbus, North Platte and Scottsbluff — represent 46 percent of the population. The rest of the 570,000 3rd District residents occupy farms and rural communities.

The district’s configuration dates from 1963, when declining population cost Nebraskans their 4th Congressional District. Most of the old 3rd and 4th districts then merged into the current 3rd District.

In the same sense that single adjectives such as “expansive” and “sprawling” cannot adequately describe the 3rd District, it is inaccurate to label the five-week break that members of Congress now are taking as a “recess” — at least here in the 3rd District.

“Recess” sounds as if elected representatives are taking time off to sleep late or improve their golf swing when, in fact, the five weeks are an opportunity to reconnect with constituents back home.

We were reminded last week about the size of the 3rd District and the stamina required to represent it when Rep. Adrian Smith issued his schedule for Monday through Wednesday.

Smith’s agenda includes stops in Alliance, Hyannis and Sidney in western Nebraska followed by appearances in North Platte and Valentine in central Nebraska, and then visits in the eastern Nebraska communities of Wayne and Neligh.

Smith will discuss federal issues and hear from people needing his assistance. Tracing his travel plans reveals what a road-pounding experience it is to meet constituents face-to-face.

By our estimates, Smith will travel about 750 miles Monday through Wednesday. The thought of Smith bounding along Nebraska’s highways inspires the image of one of his 3rd District predecessors, Rep. Virginia Smith.

The diminutive representative from Chappell served the 3rd District from 1975-1991. Much of that time she was in the back seat of a blue Buick piloted by her husband, Haven.

Names have changed since Smith’s tenure — Bill Barrett, Tom Osborne and now Adrian Smith — but the need to be on the road has not.